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(No Model.)

G. A. COOKE.

PEN-GB.

Patented June 1, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. QOOKE, OF HOPE, NEW JERSEY.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,107, dated June 1, 1886.

Application filed March 13, 1886.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE A. COOKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Hope, in the county of Varren and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tO the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures Of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to metal fences; and it consists in the improvements hereinafter described and set forth.

In vthe accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a front view Ofa fence constructed in accordance with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view Of one of the fence rails. Fig. 3 is aseotional view through one ofthe fence-posts and end rails, and Fig. 4 is a side View of one of the fence'posts.

A represents the fenceposts, each of which preferably consists of a central vertical web and side flanges, as seen in Fig. 3, said fenceposts having at suitable in tervals vertical rectangular openings a, through which the ends of the rails pass. The central or front web of the post may extend downwardly beyond the side webs, so as to enter the ground, and it may be bent at an angle, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to prevent said fence-post from settling or entering too deeply in the ground. The posts are provided with as many openings a as there will be rails in the fence.

B refers to the fence-rails, which consist of bars of iron, one end of said bars being bent upon itself, so as to form a segment of a circle, as shown at b, an angular recess being provided Within this bent portion, which will embrace thc part of the fence-post adjacent to the Opening c. The opposite end of the rail B is curved on the segment of a circle, and said end extends inwardly, so as to abut Serial No. 195,145. (No model.)

against the inner portion of the side anges or web ofthe post, as shown in Fig. 3, this bent end being indicated by the letter c.

When it is desired to build a fence with my improved posts and rails, one of the posts may be first set up in the ground, and as many rails as may be needed to construct the fence are placed in the openings a a, which may be done by simply slipping the ends b into said openings. The next rails are placed, before inserting them in the Openings in the posts, at right angles with said posts, so `that the portions c will lie beside the bent ends b, already placed therein, and their ends b are then moved toward and inserted in the opening of the nexty post, (which is afterward set up in the gronnd,) and when the rail is parallel to the front face thereof the end b can be readily inserted in the opening a. It will thus be seen that the ends of the adjacent rails interlock each other in the openings, so that they can be removed therefrom, and the result is a strong fence, in the construction of which no bolts, nails, or additional fastening devices are required.

I claiml. As a new article of manufacture, a Inetallic fence-rail having one end, b, bent back upon itself so as to form a recess, and the opposite end, c, curved in a reverse direction, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination, with a metallic fencepost having a flat central portion, said central portion provided with side ianges and with rectangular Openings a, of the rails B,each of which has one end, b, bent so as to embrace the side wall of one of the openings a, the opposite end, c, of said rail being curved to enter the corresponding opening a of the adjacent fence-post, and partially encircle the end b of the adjacent rail B, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. COOKE.

VVit-nesses:

GEORGE HOAGLAND, CHAs. W. COOKE. 

